A Quarter of the World Has a Shortage of Food

The United Nations report on global food security (a term that refers to having reliable access to sufficient food) was recently published with little media fanfare. This, despite the content of the report, which was an alarming expose of two somewhat counterintuitive trends: increasing hunger and obesity. 

The report, titled The State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World, suggests that world hunger is once again on the rise, after having enjoyed a decade of decline. Shockingly, over 1 in 4 people in the world suffers moderate to severe food insecurity. While food shortage is most noted in Africa, the report points out that a full 8% of the North American and European populations also lack sufficient food. Additionally, women are disproportionally represented in cases of food scarcity, highlighting the disturbing reality that maternal and newborn health may be suffering. Indeed, data from the report suggests that 1 in 7 births are now born at low birth weight.

This year’s report also highlighted a somewhat counterintuitive observation, which is rising obesity, an affliction that causes millions of deaths globally. Between the years 2000 and 2016, obesity has skyrocketed, with children experiencing the most dramatic increases.

While it’s possible to understand how higher income societies might suffer from increasing obesity, it’s not as easy to comprehend the relationship between not having enough food and being overweight.

The report suggests three main sources of obesity when food is in short supply: first is the high cost of food, which can make nutritious meals unattainable; second is the proliferation of processed food that is loaded with fat and sugar; and third are health complications from higher levels of stress experienced by those suffering food shortage. 

In Canada, food insecurity, at 12% of the population, has experienced a worsening under the current Government, while food insecurity in the United States, at 11%, has improved. By comparison, Germany’s food insecurity level is 7% and the United Kingdom is at 6%. 

Today’s coronavirus pandemic is fanning the flames of food insecurity, with the World Health Programme suggesting we are beginning to experience food insecurity at levels never before seen, with some countries set to quadruple the number of households without food.

Global food shortage is struggling on two fronts. One is the day-to-day struggle of getting food to those who need it and the second is a lack of general awareness of the issue. In the spirit of doing better, this is one area that needs our immediate attention.